down under, abroad
May Simavanichkul and Jate Pokmangmee
Owners of The Hidden Milkbar, Bangkok
Make your way up a narrow staircase to the third floor of a building in one of Bangkok’s oldest districts, and you’ll be greeted by a door that reads “G’Day Mate!” It’s the sign that you’ve reached The Hidden Milkbar, a little café that serves up more Aussie-inspired treats than you can poke a stick at. Run by Thai couple May Simavanichkul and Jate Pokmangmee, the pastel-pink space is complete with a display of Big M cartons and Weet-Bix boxes May recreated herself. The place is much schmicker than your average milk bar at the end of the street – May and Jate have backgrounds in hospitality, marketing and design, and May is a pastry chef.
What made you want to open a milk bar-themed café in Bangkok? May Simavanichkul: We had always thought about doing an Aussie-inspired food business after relocating back home. We lived in Australia for 12 years – it’s where we studied – and we also ran a small Thai café in Melbourne for two years. In Melbourne, we saw traditional milk bars get turned into cafes. We liked that they were a place for community, and that they had groceries and friendly service. Jate Pokmangmee: I’m a photographer and run the film lab Fotoclub BKK downstairs. When I found this three-storey space, I asked if May wanted to
